Understanding and overcoming Mental Health Disorders is no easy feat. Trying to face these challenges on your own only sets you up for more hardship. That is why it is crucial to seek professional diagnosis and treatment for maladaptive thought patterns, behavioral issues, emotional dysregulation, and other Mental Health symptoms and conditions.
When it comes to Cluster B Personality Disorders, professional intervention is even more critical. A Licensed Clinical Psychologist helps you navigate the intense, erratic, and complicated symptoms and challenges associated with these types of Mental Health Disorders. Through their guidance and expertise, you gain a clearer understanding of the experiences you are facing and can build the tools necessary to overcome these challenges and build a healthier life. Learn more about the significance of seeking treatment from a Psychologist to treat Cluster B Personality Disorders with this overview.
What Are Cluster B Personality Disorders?
Cluster B Personality Disorders refers to a category of Personality Disorders that includes Borderline Personality Disorder, Antisocial Personality Disorder, Histrionic Personality Disorder, and Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Experts group these Mental Health Disorders together because of certain key characteristics they share. These characteristics include unpredictable behaviors, dramatic or intense emotional responses, difficulty modulating affect, challenges with social functioning, and relationship conflicts.
Understanding the way these Mental Health Disorders manifest and how they affect your personal, professional, and social life is the first step toward getting the help you need.
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
Borderline Personality Disorder, or BPD, involves unstable moods and emotions. Individuals with this Mental Health Disorder often experience heightened sensitivity and intense emotional reactions to seemingly small events. This creates emotional volatility, impulsivity, and other challenges.
Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD)
Individuals with Antisocial Personality Disorder, also known as ASPD, often fail to consider the thoughts and feelings of other people when they act. They have low levels of empathy and a lack of regard for those around them. This disconnection makes it easier to fall into harmful habits such as lying, manipulation, and even aggression toward others.
Antisocial Personality Disorder is also associated with a heightened sense of arrogance, recklessness, and impulsivity. These traits, combined with a disregard for consequences, can lead to individuals ignoring what is morally right and potentially putting the people around them at risk of harm.
Histrionic Personality Disorder (HPD)
At first glance, Histrionic Personality Disorder, or HPD, often looks very similar to Borderline Personality Disorder. They both involve intense reactions and displays of emotion. However, there are several distinctions that set Histrionic Personality Disorder apart, including attention-seeking behaviors and self-centered thoughts, emotions, and habits. These characteristics can cause an individual with Histrionic Personality Disorder to appear shallow and egotistical.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD)
Narcissistic Personality Disorder, or NPD, also involves self-centered behavior. Individuals with Narcissistic Personality Disorder have low levels of empathy. Though they long to be admired by others, they also tend to exploit or belittle others to boost their own self-esteem.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder is characterized by selfish, demanding, or controlling behaviors. In relationships, it can often lead to manipulation and power imbalances. People with Narcissistic Personality Disorder also experience severe feelings of insecurity and envy—both of which contribute to the desire for control.
Defining Factors of Cluster B Personality Disorders
Looking at these types of Personality Disorders alongside each other highlights their defining factors: emotional instability, impulsivity, attention-seeking behaviors, struggles with emotional regulation, and interpersonal issues.
Compare this to other types of Personality Disorders. Cluster A disorders, for example, are defined by withdrawn or eccentric behaviors. Individuals with these types of Personality Disorders often struggle with expression. One example of Cluster A Personality Disorder is Paranoid Personality Disorder.
Cluster C Personality Disorders revolve around intense anxiety and fear. They include Avoidant Personality Disorder and Dependent Personality Disorder.
Diagnoses and Comorbid Disorders
There are several Mental Health Disorders and symptoms that can coincide with these Mental Health Disorders. This makes it difficult to accurately diagnose Cluster B Personality Disorders. It also creates treatment complications even after diagnosis.
Common comorbid Mental Health Disorders include Depressive Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Eating Disorders, Substance Abuse Disorders, and other Addiction Disorders. Professional intervention is the key to accurately identifying these conditions and creating an effective treatment plan to address the problem at its source. Looking at the root cause behind all comorbid disorders is the only way to achieve lasting, positive change.
Forms of Therapy for Cluster B Personality Disorders
Evidence-based therapy with a Licensed Clinical Psychologist is the key to effectively treating Cluster B Personality Disorders. There are different therapy models Psychologists use to address and work through the challenges of these disorders. Below are some of the most common ones.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, is one of the most popular forms of modern therapy. Its main goal is to identify thought patterns that cause harm. For example, self-centered thought patterns lead to negative feelings, such as selfishness or envy, and negative behaviors, such as boasting about yourself or criticizing others. By correcting the thought patterns and changing associations, you eliminate unhealthy and unhelpful ingrained beliefs and replace them with more productive thoughts. This, in turn, leads to healthier emotional reactions and more positive, productive behaviors.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, takes the principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy a step further and uses them to build cognitive tools such as mindfulness, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and emotional regulation. These skills allow individuals with Cluster B Personality Disorders to better control their reactions and behaviors. The result is reduced impulsivity as well as healthier thought patterns and habits.
Transference-Focused Psychotherapy (TFP)
Transference occurs when a client projects the emotions they feel about a specific figure in their life onto another person. Transference-Focused Psychotherapy, or TFP, takes advantage of this occurrence in order to understand the influences of past relationships on a patient’s current mindset and experiences.
In Transference-Focused Psychotherapy, the client transfers feelings they have toward a parent, partner, or other figure onto their Licensed Clinical Psychologist. These feelings can be positive, negative, or some mix of the two. The goal is not to judge these emotions but to analyze them to identify root thoughts and behaviors that are preventing healthy thought patterns, emotional regulation, and interpersonal relationships in a client’s current life.
Blair Wellness Group Offers Professional Treatment
If you are looking for Transference-Based Therapy or other forms of Psychotherapy for Cluster B Personality Disorders, Blair Wellness Group can help. We offer individualized treatment plans that revolve around evidence-based treatments in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Irvine, Newport Beach, Bel Air, Century City, Brentwood, Westwood, Huntington Beach, Mission Viejo, Aliso Viejo, and the surrounding areas. Contact Blair Wellness Group today and see how seeking treatment from a Licensed Clinical Psychologist is the key to treating Cluster B Personality Disorders.
